مکالمه ی فعالانه قسمت د

ACTIVE SPEAKING / PART D

LAUGHTER AND TEARS

We laugh for many reasons and health is just a side benefit.

Why do we laugh? We laugh for many reasons. What is just a side benefit?

Health is just a side benefit.

Aristotle believed that laughter was what separated human beings from all other animals.

Who believed that laughter was what separated human beings from all other animals? Aristotle believed that laughter was what separated human beings from all other animals.

He believed that laughter was connected with having a soul and that a baby did not have a soul at all until he or she laughed for the first time.

What did he believe was connected with having a soul? He believed that laughter was connected with having a soul. When did a baby receive a soul?

A baby received a soul once he or she laughed for the first time.

Aristotle may have been wrong about humans being the only animals who laugh.

What might Aristotle have been wrong about? Aristotle might have been wrong about humans being the only animals who laugh.

Professor Jaak Panksepp at Bowling Green State University studies animal emotions.

Who studies animal emotions? Professor Jaak Panksepp at Bowling Green State University studies animal emotions.

He studied rats and noticed that they played just like human children.

What did he study? He studied rats. What did they play like? They played just like human children.

They chased each other about and wrestled, but unlike human children who frequently laugh while they play, the rats were silent.

Did they chase each other about and wrestle? Yes, they chased each other about and wrestled. Did the rats make a lot of noise when they played? No, the rats did not make a lot of noise when they played. The rats were silent.

One day, the professor’s assistant had an epiphany.

Who had an epiphany? The professor’s assistant had an epiphany.

She wondered what if the rats were making sounds that the human ear was unable to hear.

What did she wonder? She wondered what if the rats were making sounds that the human ear was unable to hear.

They ordered a device used for recording bat sounds that are inaudible to humans.

What kind of device did they order? They ordered a device used for recording bat sounds that are inaudible to humans.

Lo and behold, they found that the rats were making sounds while playing, and the sounds were similar in rhythm to that of a human laugh.

Were the rats making sounds while playing? Yes, the rats were making sounds while playing. What were the sounds similar in rhythm to? The sounds were similar in rhythm to that of a human laugh.

Chimpanzees have also been observed making panting sounds that are very similar to human laughter.

Who have been observed making panting sounds? Chimpanzees have been observed making panting sounds. Are these sounds very similar to rat laughter? No, these sounds are not very similar to rat laughter. These sounds are very similar to human laughter.

And just like humans, chimpanzees seem to make these sounds for social reasons and rarely laugh alone.

What do chimpanzees make these sounds for? Chimpanzees make these sounds for social reasons. Do they often laugh alone? No, they do not often laugh alone. They rarely laugh alone.

Some think that laughter evolved in chimps as a way to communicate the difference between playful roughhousing and serious physical aggression.

Did laughter evolve in chimps to communicate the difference between playful roughhousing and serious physical aggression? Yes, laughter evolved in chimps as a way to communicate the difference between playful roughhousing and serious physical aggression.

Animals can laugh, and some believe they also cry.

Can animals laugh? Yes, animals can laugh. What do some believe they can also do? Some believe they can also cry.

Dogs separated from their owners sometimes cry tears.

Who sometimes cry tears? Dogs separated from their owners sometimes cry tears.

And they are not the only animals to shed a tear.

Are they the only animals to shed a tear? No, they are not the only animals to shed a tear.

A photo of an elephant crying after he was separated from his mother went viral on the Internet.

Did a photo of an elephant go viral on the Internet? Yes, a photo of an elephant went viral on the Internet. When was the elephant crying? The elephant was crying after he was separated from his mother.

Some say that the elephant’s tears had nothing to do with genuine emotion and instead simply showed physiological distress.

Do some say that the elephant’s tears had nothing to do with genuine emotion? Yes, some say that the elephant’s tears had nothing to do with genuine emotion. What do they think it showed? They think it showed physiological distress.

The jury is still out on whether animal tears are evidence of human-like emotions.

Is the jury still out? Yes, the jury is still out. Is the jury still out on whether animal tears are evidence of human-like emotions? Yes, the jury is still out on whether animal tears are evidence of human-like emotions.

Whatever the case, laughing and crying are tools that both humans and animals use to communicate.

Are laughing and crying tools that only animals use to communicate? No, laughing and crying are not tools that only animals use to communicate.

Laughing and crying are tools that both animals and humans use to communicate.

And perhaps, like humans, animals also benefit from its healing power.

Who might also benefit from its healing power? Animals might also benefit from its healing power.